Seal between wall members of a metallurgical vessel enclosure

Abstract

Two elongated sealing members are provided to prevent escape of gases from between a movable wall member and an abutting wall member of a metallurgical vessel enclosure. A first elongated sealing member is mounted on the first of the wall members and has a compressible material facing the second of the wall members. A second elongated sealing member is mounted on the second of the wall members and has a blade facing the elongated receiving member. The elongated sealing members are located so that they make contact before the adjoining edges of the wall members are abutted. At least one of said elongated sealing members is movably mounted so that after the elongated sealing members make contact, the wall members may be moved to an abutting position with their adjoining edges touching so as to minimize the effect of heat on said elongated sealing members.

We claim: 
     
       1. In a metallurgical vessel enclosure having two horizontally slidable wall members each, abutting the other along a generally vertical adjoining edge at one end, and abutting another wall member along a second generally vertical edge at an opposite end, the improvement which comprises: a first elongated sealing member mounted along the exterior face of the edge of the first of the slidable wall members which adjoins the second slidable wall member, said first sealing member having a heat resistant compressible material with an exposed planar surface facing the second of said slidable wall members,   the compressible material of said first elongated sealing member being located so that its exposed planar surface is in a slightly retracted position from the edge of the first slidable wall member so as to be protected from heat and molten materials splashing from the vessel,   a second elongated sealing member mounted along the edge of the second slidable wall member adjoining the first, said second sealing member having a blade with a leading edge formed of a heat resistant material, said second elongated sealing member being located so that the leading edge of the blade substantially protrudes beyond the plane of the adjoining edge of the second slidable wall member toward the first elongated sealing member so as to make contact therewith before the adjoining edges of said first and second slidable wall members are brought into abutting contact, and   means for allowing the first of said elongated sealing members to move so that after the elongated sealing members are in contact, the two slidable wall members may be moved to an abutting position simultaneously displacing said first elongated sealing member further from the adjoining edges of the slidable wall members thus minimizing penetration of heat and splashing molten metal or slag to said sealing members.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means comprises a plurality of rods spaced along the length of the first elongated sealing member extending along the exterior of said first slidable wall member and being mounted thereon, and a coil spring mounted on each rod for urging said first elongated sealing member against the second elongated sealing member so as to form a gas tight seal along the full length of said elongated sealing members. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first elongated sealing member of heat resistant compressible material mounted along the edge of the exterior face of each wall member adjoining the opposite ends of the first and second slidable wall members, said compressible material with an exposed planar surface facing the direction of backward movement of the adjoining slidable wall member, a second elongated sealing member with a heat resistant blade mounted on the interior face of each of the slidable wall members at their opposite ends facing the exposed planar surface of the first elongated sealing member, said blade being positioned so as to contact the first elongated sealing member before the slidable wall members are abutted, and means for allowing movement of the blade as the slidable wall members are abutted but resisting said movement so as to urge said blade into the heat resistant compressible material to form a gas fight seal.